Page 11 of The Friend Zone

“What I’m trying to say,” she interrupts me. “Is that you’re beautiful. Cole loves you as a friend, but there’s no way he hasn’t noticed that you wouldn’t be out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster.”

“Coulda fooled me,” I can’t help the bitterness in my tone. “You should have seen the look in his eyes when Topher gave him that chip and challenged him to kiss me. I think he would have looked less disgusted if he had been dared to eat crickets or something weird like that.”

Lakyn isn’t convinced. “Maybe he felt put on the spot and he didn’t want to kiss you for the first time in front of half the school?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” I say, thinking about the way he was dancing with me at the last Gamma party. For a second I thought he was going to kiss me, before Topher barged in. “But he brought a date to that party. He always has a girl or two on his arm. So I don’t think he sees me that way.”

Didn’t I already say that my sister is stubborn?

“Yeah, but you had a boyfriend until five minutes ago, Bay. You haven’t seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching him.”

I wish I could believe her. “Right. That’s debatable. Anyway, maybe the fact that he doesn’t want more than a friendship is a blessing in disguise. If he did, I’d have to end things with Jagger and I’m not ready to do that. Unless obviously Jagger is done with me.”

Mischief dances in Lakyn’s blue eyes. “Aren’t Jagger and Cole really good friends?”

I don’t know why that matters. “Yeah. Aside from me, Jagger is Cole’s best friend. Why?”

My sister’s smile widens. “Maybe you could keep seeing them both. They’re teammates and can you think how it would be if they worked together to make you feel good?”

Heat rises to my face at the memory of Ryker’s apology and how hot it was to be sandwiched between him and Jagger plays in the back of my mind like an x-rated movie.

“Bay?” Lakyn’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “Is there something you aren’t telling me? Spill.”

It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Go figure. That’s when your twin sixth sense decides to make an appearance, huh?”

“Maybe it’s a selective sixth sense, who knows?” she teases.

I come clean about what must have been the hottest hour of my life. As usual, I don’t spare any details. Lakyn and I have never had any secrets from each other.

“Holy shit,” her eyes are as wide as saucers. “Maybe it’s destiny. You could end up with three amazing guys, just like I have.”

I guess a girl can dream. “Or this whole thing will blow up in my face.” I say, thinking that Jagger and Cole started ignoring me right after Ryker’s apology. “Maybe Jagger is judging me because I let Ryker join us? And if he told Cole, maybe that’s why he won’t talk to me?”

Lakyn looks furious. “Seriously? You think they might be slut shaming you?”

“I don’t really think that,” I bite out.

Or at least, Jagger and Cole would be hypocrites if they did, since their hookups with multiple girls are legendary around campus.

I just don’t know what else to think and that would be an easier explanation to accept than the alternative. It would hurt way more if Cole found me repulsive and Jagger had simply gotten bored with me. Ryker is a completely different matter. I think he likes me, he did from the second we met at the airport, but for some reason he’s holding back.

“The thing is,” I finally say to Lakyn. “I have enough on my plate to agonize over men who run hot and cold for no reason or have put me forever in the friend zone. Anyway, tomorrow the Cove Knights have a home game. So Jagger shouldn’t ignore me if he wants to win.”

Lakyn looks shocked. “Are you still going to blow him even if he’s been ghosting you?”

I nod, my mind made up. “We have a deal, right?”

My sister shakes her head. “I’ll be looking forward to hearing how that goes. I’m going to be in Seattle with the guys this weekend and then in Vancouver. Do you want to set a time to call me?”

“No babe,” I sigh. “My schedule this week is full to the brim. I have a few very challenging classes, a pop quiz and I need to take a better look to those plans the Dean gave me if I have any chance in hell to figure out a course of action to keep the Zetas in Star Cove. I’ll see you next weekend?”

Lakyn smiles. “You bet your sweet little ass you will. You’re staying the night since the game is on a Saturday. The guys don’t play that night, so they’re all coming to watch their old team. I can’t wait to squeeze you, sis.”

I miss her so much that my heart physically hurts. “Good luck trying to get me to let you go once I get my arms around you, Lakey-Lake. I love you.”

CHAPTER 4

IT’S NOT YOU IT’S ME

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